Senior Policy Adviser (Work)

Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust; York, London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a passionate individual to drive policy development around work and the labour market. This role offers the opportunity to influence social change by addressing poverty and economic insecurity through innovative policy arguments and projects. You will have the freedom to shape your work while collaborating with diverse stakeholders to cultivate impactful ideas. If you're committed to social justice and have the expertise to navigate complex policy dilemmas, this is a fantastic opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the UK’s labour market landscape.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of work and labour market policy issues.
• Experience in making policy changes at the national level.

Responsibilities

• Devise policy arguments and projects to advance a fair labour market.
• Design and lead projects linking to JRF’s media and campaigns.

Skills

Policy Development

Analytical Skills

Social Justice Advocacy

Research Evidence Analysis

Networking

Education

Degree in Social Sciences or related field

Job description

York/London/Hybrid (willing to discuss flexible working from other locations, but will need to be able to attend either York or London office a minimum of two days per week)

Permanent, Full Time – 35 hours per week.

About the role

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) is working to speed up and support the transition to a more equitable and just future, free from poverty, in which people and planet can flourish. Inspired by the work of our founder over a century ago, today we are an independent, social change organisation, with an endowment, working across all nations of the UK.

This new role has been created to help us achieve our mission and will entail the creation of a new stream of policy development and influencing activity around work and the labour market, particularly issues related to poverty and economic insecurity in the UK today. Your brief will be to devise policy arguments and projects which can help us advance towards a fair labour market in ways that are both ambitious and sensitive to the needs of households in the UK, particularly those on low incomes.

The post-holder will have freedom to shape the scope of work, which should draw on JRF’s capacity to blend policy, analysis, advocacy and convening – combining in-house delivery and resourcing the work of others.

In this role, you’ll have the space and resources to create, connect, convene and cultivate ideas to catalyse social change on work and the labour market. You’ll design and lead projects, expanding our expertise – and our impact – into a high-profile policy area, and be our point person on topic. By linking to JRF’s work on media, campaigns, emerging futures and social investment, you’ll find compelling ways to bring our policy & ideas to life.

About you

Candidates will bring a knowledge of policy issues related to work and labour markets and how they intersect with wider issues of social and economic disadvantage. You should have ideas about how to change the system and tangible experience of making policy and practice change at the national level. You will be able to analyse and unpick complex policy dilemmas, drawing on key literature, research evidence, leading-edge practice and everyday experience, and already be a ‘go-to’ voice for original thinking and expertise among decision-makers and opinion formers. You’ll bring curiosity, a powerful commitment to social justice, and ideally a network of relationships from the sector or adjacent sectors.

How to apply

If you share our passion and this role sounds like you, then we’re looking forward to hearing from you.

Please submit your CV and supporting information via our online application platform.

The closing date for applications is 12th January 2025

Interviews will take place either in York, London or remotely the w/c 3rd February 2025.

Additional Information

In support of our approach to flexible working, we are happy to receive applications from those seeking full-time employment, as well as those who may want to share the role on a part-time basis. When making your application, please state whether you want to be considered for either full or part-time work and, if part-time, the number of hours per week you would be looking for.

Applications are welcome from all, regardless of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, race, sex, sexual orientation, trans status or socioeconomic background. We recognise that we cannot truly be an anti-poverty organisation unless we are also an anti-racist organisation, and we positively encourage applications from people with experience of living in poverty.

We are a Disability Confident Employer. This means that we are committed to the recruitment, progression and retention of disabled individuals. We shall also offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the job. If you have a disability, please tell us if you would like to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.